Blind Prophecy

Did you know that used nose putty in a ziplock bag doesn’t last 10 years? Yeah, I probably knew that too.

With a long day off and nothing much to do, I got started on some very early spring cleaning. Specifically, I was opening up the bags and boxes that have remained unopened through the last 2-3 interstate relocations.

First I tackled the “bag of cords.” Since living in Las Vegas, I’ve been collecting more and more useless cords. I’m sure they served a purpose at one time, but I probably don’t need the USB adapter to my very first digital camera anymore. Nor do I think those broken earphones are going to come in handy some day. And do I really need to hang on to the hands-free earpiece from the cell phone I lost 5 years ago? I didn’t toss out all the cords, there are some that will come in handy (for instance, if the wireless system goes down, but I still have access to an ethernet port), but the bag is lighter.

My second project was my old theatre department makeup kit. In 1997, I purchased a large tackle box to store the theatrical makeup set I bought for THTR 121 – Stage Makeup. The box was too big, but effective. Nevertheless, I quickly filled the whole thing with other odds and ends – new brushes, q-tips, hand lotion, etc. Each new show I was in had unique requirements, so I added to my box by bits and pieces like fake mustaches and nose putty.

And then there was the drag year, when Miss Cherry Poppings–winner of the 2002 Nevada Gay Rodeo Association’s Miss Closet Ball crown and sash–stuffed the box full of glitter, spare razors, fake eyelashes, fake fingernails, and duct tape (I cringe at the memory).

Well, after last Halloween (which seems to be the only time I open that box anymore), I decided it was time to clean out the tackle box. It was full of surprising little treasures like “Gore/Lieberman” buttons, a tied shut latex glove full of baby powder, my first gay pride jewelry, and the “care of your new tattoo” flier I got with my first (and only, so far) tattoo.

I tossed a lot of it – particularly lotions, creams, and other stuff that didn’t stand up well to the test of time. Some of the contents of that box really were 10 years old. I also washed out the tackle box to get rid of the residue and spills that have accumulated over the years.

Now, I have a handy case ready to go for my infrequently used toiletries and keepsakes, which will also help me with my resolution to keep my bathroom a little cleaner this year.

And, yes, I did just write a 500 word blog about my old stage and drag makeup case. I can toss out the old nose putty, but I’ll never forget painting my whole body orange for Camino Real or creating and playing 4 physically different characters in 2 hours for Tartuffe. Once, while getting ready for Alice in Wonderland (I played “Bill the Lizard” in green and yellow), one of my castmates pointed at my tackle box and sarcastically joked, “Jere, how can you possibly create anything with those tools?” Yeah, it was a bit overboard even when I was doing theater regularly, but I love that box.

Filed under: theatregeekery by Jere Keys